With the start of the August holidays and the increase in traffic heading for the coast and tourist resorts, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) is stepping up breathalyser checks. The stated aim is to reduce accidents. However, fears of corruption and demands for bribes are resurfacing amongst motorists.
The NTSA has announced the return of breathalyser checks on Kenya’s main roads from this Saturday, as part of a major road safety operation ahead of the August school holidays, a period when millions of people travel to tourist destinations and their home towns.
The campaign, launched in collaboration with the National Police and local authorities, will not be limited to checking drivers for alcohol consumption. Officers will also be checking for speeding, reckless overtaking, driving the wrong way, using a mobile phone at the wheel, driver fatigue and other offences considered to be among the main causes of road accidents.
Particular attention will be paid to the coast, where the influx of tourists and holidaymakers increases significantly during August. The NTSA has also urged passengers to report dangerous behaviour by drivers and to use the emergency numbers should they witness any hazardous situations.
The stated aim is to reduce the number of fatal accidents during a period of the year that is traditionally very critical for road traffic. In recent months, the government has also strengthened its road enforcement apparatus by introducing new digital systems, smart cameras and a stricter regulatory framework for traffic offences.
Alongside the aim of prevention, however, the return of breathalyser checks inevitably brings to mind another phenomenon well known to Kenyan motorists: that of bribes at checkpoints. Whenever checks are stepped up, fears resurface on social media and in conversations among drivers that some officers might exploit the threat of a driving licence being revoked, a court appearance or the impounding of a vehicle to demand money in exchange for turning a blind eye.
This is a practice that the authorities continue to officially condemn and which has been the subject of numerous anti-corruption campaigns in recent years. However, the perception among many citizens is that the problem has not yet been fully resolved, especially during periods of heavy traffic, when the pressure on checks increases.
For those setting off in the coming days for Malindi, Watamu, Diani or Mombasa, the advice remains to drive sober, observe speed limits and ensure all documentation is in order. Not only to avoid fines, but above all because, regardless of the controversy surrounding breathalyser tests, road safety remains one of the most serious issues on Kenya’s roads.